Mold-block for linotype-machines.



No. 644,558. Patented Feb. 27, I900. P. C. LAWLESS.

MOLD BLOCK FOR LINOTYPE MACHINES.

(Application filed Sept. 9, 1899.

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No. 644,558. Patented Feb. 27, I900.

P. C. LAWLESS. MOLD BLOCK FOR LINOTYPE MACHIN ES.

(Application fllad Sept. 9, 1899.) (No Model.)

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No. 644,558. Patented Feb. 27, I900.

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MOLD BLOCK FDR LINOTYPE MACHINES.

(Application filed Sept. 9, 1899.)

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PHILIP CHARLES LAVVLES S, LONDON, ENGLAND.

MOLD-BLOCK FOR LlNOTYPE-MACHINES;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,558, dated February 2'7, 199( Application filed September 9, 1899. Serial No. 729.963. (No model.)

To all whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP CHARLES LAW- LESS, of London, in the county of Middlesex, England, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Mold-Blocks of Linotype-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to improvements in the mold-blocks of linotype-machines; and the object of it is to provide a mold-block in which can be cast at will either a late-news linotype or an uncored type-high linotype.

A late-news linotype differs from an ordinary type-high linotype either by being narrower when it is to be used with a stereotypeplate, or in having a dovetail or similar notch in its foot, or in having one or both ends tapered or notched, or in being notched or tapered and narrow as well, or in being tapered on the sides and notched along one of them. Automatic means for casting such linotypes have already been proposed; and the object of the present invention is to provide certain improved automatic means for the purpose.

To that end it consists principally in the mold commonly known in England as the mold-block, being bipartite, the resulting two blockshereinafter separately referred to as the front mold-block and the back mold-block-meeting along a plane parallel with the printing-surface of the type, one of them for the narrow linotype and the other for the sprue. The advantages of this bipartit-e mold-block are, first, that there is a complete mold-block for the narrow or low linotype and a complete one for the sprue, each block holding its contents immovable within it andincapable of any motion therein other than that of ejection, and, second, that the bipartite mold-block may be locked, so that the slot in one block registers with the slot in the other block, whereby the bipartite mold-block is adapted to form an ordinary solid type-high linotype.

The accompanying drawings, besides illustrating the invention, illustrate the application of it to the Mergenthaler linotype-machine described in the specification of Letters Patent No. 436,532, dated September 16, 1890; but it must be pointed out that there is nothing in the invention itself which restricts it to that machine.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a bipartite mold-block for a narrow lino ype and the sprue of it and the adjacent portion of the mold-wheel of a Mergenthaler linotype-machine; Fig. 2, a cross-section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, including the wedge for making the slot in the back mold-block register with that in the front one; Fig. 2 a detail cross-section, on an enlarged scale, of the sprue and linotype slots in the position illustrated in Figs. 2, 13, and 19, including the respective portions of the'said sprue and linotype; Fig. 3, a cross-section, as Fig. 2, but showing the effect of the wedge-piece and including the ejector; Fig. 4, a side elevation from the right hand of the wedge-piece; Fig. 5, a vertical longitudinal section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1, looking from the right; Fig. 6, a vertical longitudinal section on the same line as Fig. 5, but looking from the left; Fig. 7, a rear view of the cap-plates of the front and back moldblocks; Fig. 7 a front elevation of a stop for locking the bipartite mold-block; Fig. 7 a side elevation of Fig. 7 from the right; Fig. 8, an inverted plan of one core-piece; Fig. 9, a side elevation from the right hand of Fig. 8; Fig. 10, an inverted plan of the other corepiece; Fig. 11, a plan of Fig. 8 and an inverted plan of Fig. 10; Fig. 12, a front elevation of part of the mold-wheel of-a Mergenthaler linotype-machine at the end of its longest arcual motion, with a bipartite mold-block fitted with a modified means for operating the end corepieces Fig. 13, a transverse section on the line 18 13 of Fig. 12; Fig. 14, atransverse sec- .tion on the line 14 14 of Fig. 12; Fig. 15, a

transverse section on the line 15 15 of Fig. 16 and showing the two slots of the mold-blocks registering with each other for the prod notion of the type-high linotype; Fig.16, an elevation of an improved mold detached, showing the two slots of the mold-blocks registering with each other, as in the preceding figure; Fig. 17, a section on the line 17 17 of Fig. 16 looking from the left, showing more particularly the sliding end-liners and the means for moving them; Fig. 18, a front elevation of abipartite mold-block adapted to cast linotypes having their feet cored or recessed; Fig. 19, a transverse section taken on the line 19 19 of Figs. 18, 23, 24, and 25 and including the adjacent portion of the above-mentioned mold-wheel, the two parts of the mold having their slots adjusted out of line; Fig. 20, a longitudinal section on the same line as Fig. 19, but after the two slots have been put in register with each other to produce type high linotypes; Fig. 21, a front elevation of the back mold block or section; Fig. 22, a rear elevation of the front mold block or section; Fig. 23, a side elevation from the right hand on the line 23 23 of Fig. 18; Fig. 2i, a side elevation from the left hand on the line 23 23 of Fig. 1b; Fig. 25, a rear elevation of the two cap-plates of Figs. 18 to 2-1; Fig. 26, a side elevation of the low or narrow linotype and the sprue cast in the bipartite mold illustrated in Figs. 18 to 25; and Figs. 27 and 28, sections of the low linotype and sprue on the lines 27 27 and 28 28, respectively, of Fig. 26.

Myimproved mold has a slot or mold proper, in which the linotype is cast, as usual, the slot extending therethrough from the front to the back in order that the molten metal delivered from the mouth into the back from the melting-pot may fill the internal space and be cast against the matrices, which are temporarily assembled against the front for the purpose of forming type characters on the edge of the linotype. Instead of being made in one solid body, as usual, my mold is divided in a plane parallel with the printing-surface of the linotype into two parts orsectious adjustable one in relation to the other. When they are adjusted with their slots in register, a type-mold will be presented suitable for the production of type-high linotypes. Then they are adjusted so that the slot in the front portion is out of line with the slot in the other portion, a low or shallow linotype will be produced in the front portion, while the metal in the rear portion will form a sprue, connected to the linotype proper by a thin web, so that it may be readily broken off and rejected.

The essence of the invention resides in the division of the mold into two parts, which may be used jointly or separately for the formation of a linotype proper, and it is manifest that the details may be modified at will, provided this feature is retained. I have, however, shown in the accompanying drawings those details of construction which I have found in practice to be the best adapted to the ends in view.

0 is the mold-wheel; o, the mold-wheel slide, from which the mold-wheel is supported, as usual; 0 the gear-teeth on the periphery of the wheel 0 to be engaged by a pinion to rotate the wheel; 0 the recess in lhe mold-wheel to receive the rearwardly-projecting portion of the back mold-block, and O the usual reciprocating ejector. The means for moving the wheel 0 and the ejector O are not included in the drawings, because they do not form any part of the present invention. The parts just described are as heretofore.

The front mold-block and the back moldblock are each of the same general construction as the four-piece mold-block at present in use on the Mergenthaler linotype-machine. Thus 1 is the cap-plate, 2 the bottom plate, and 3 3 the offsets or end-liners, the four pieces being held firmly together by screws 4 i and together constituting the front moldblock. It is built up in four parts instead of being made in one piece, simply as a matter of convenience in manufacture. 5 is the slot in it, in which the narrow or low linotype 19 will be cast. 6 6 are the screws holding the front mold-block to the front of the moldwheel 0 by being passed through the bottom plate 2, as in previous Mergenthaler moldblocks. So for the back mold-block 7 is the cap-plate, S the bottom plate, and 9 9 the olfsets or end-liners, the four pieces being held firmly together by screws 10 10. 11 is the slot between the said four pieces for the base portion of the type-high linotype or the sprue 20 of the narrow linotype to be cast in. The back mold-block stands between the said front mold-block and the wheel 0 or its equivalent, in contact with both, as shown, and it must be able to slide to and fro over the front mold-block for a distance nearly equal to the thickness of the slot 5 or 11 in the direction of that thicknessthat is, from the position illustrated in Figs. 2, 2, 13, and 19 to that illustrated in Figs. 3, l5, and 20. In the latter position the two slots 5 and 11 register with each other exactly. In the former they are nearly but not quite in echelon to make room for the passage of the metal from the slot 11 into the slot 5, so that when both have been filled with metal the linotype l9 and sprue 20 are connected by a web 21. The back mold-block is guided in its to-and-fro motion by the engagement of a forwardly-projecting tongue-piece 14, fast on the front face of the plate 8 in a corresponding recess 15 in the under or back face of the bottom plate 2 of the fixed front mold-section, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 12, 15, 21, and 22.

12 12 are dovetailed tenons fast to the back face of the cap-plate 1 and engaging in corresponding slots or grooves 13 13 in the capplate 7, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 6, to prevent the back mold-block being pulled away from the front one by the metal-pot mouthpiece when the latter and the back mold-block are separated.

27 is a slot in the bottom plate 2, alined with the direction of the motion of the back mold-block.

28 is a headed screw having its shank passed through the slot 27 and screwed onto the bottom plate 8. This screw isnseful for holding the two mold-blocks together when they are not fixed to the mold-wheel O or its equivalent and may also serve to adjust the fit between the two blocks.

16 is a spring in a recess or seating 16 in the two mold-blocks, front and back, and resilient between them, its ends engaging therewith in the way clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, 13, 15, 19, and 20, the left-hand end of it hearing against the adjoining side of the plate 2 and the right-hand end of it pushing on the plate 8. The work that this spring 16 has to do is comparatively light, being only to move the back mold-block from the position shown in Figs. 3,15, or 20 to the one shown in Figs. 2, 2, 13, or 19 to bring the two slots into line. The opposite motion of the back mold-block requires more power, because it has to sever the web 21, connecting the narrow linotype 19 in the slot 5 with the sprue 20 in the slot 11. A more powerful device than a spring is therefore provided. It is shown as consisting of an incline 17 on the bottom plate 8 and an independently-supported wedge-piece 18. The incline 17 and wedge-piece 18 engage with each other for the double purpose of severing the web above mentioned and moving the said back mold-block from the position shown in Figs. 2, 2, 13, or 19, when its slot 11 is nearly in echelon with the slot 5, to that shown in Figs. 3, 15, or 20, when the slots 5 and 11 register with each other.

In a Mergenthaler machine the wheel is moved up horizontally toward a stationary part known as the vise-fra1neP and back again by a strong cam mechanism. The present invention utilizes this motion for the purpose of moving the back mold-block in relation to the front mold-block and shearing the web 21 by fixing the said wedge-piece 18 to the said frame P-e. g., by a screw 18 in the position illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 15, 19, and 20; but itis obvious that. the same result would be obtained in any machine not moving its mold-block support by giving the wedge-piece 18 an equivalent movement to the rear. The axis of the wheel 0 is, looking at Figs. 1, 12, 13, 15, 19, and 20, some distance to the left of the mold-blocks, and as the pressure exerted between the incline 17 and the wedge-piece 18 is more orless considerable during the shearing of the web 21 there is then a tendency to force the wheel 0 and the mold-blocks a little to the rear. To prevent that, the mold-wheelslide o is adapted to be in touch with the back mold-block during the shearing.

The nose 22 of the Wedge-piece 18 is preferably oblique, as shown in Fig. 4 and by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, in order that the severing action of the back mold-block on the web 21 may be gradual, commencing at one end and finishing at the other part passu with the engagement of the wedge-piece 18 and incline 17.

22 is a notch in the wedge-piece 18 and extending into it from its nose 22 for some distance about intermediately of its sides to enable that portion of the wedge-piece 18 which first engages with the incline 17 to spring a little at that moment and to compensate for wear. A preferable position for the said notch is shown in Fig. 19, where it is nearly parallel with the wedge-face, thereby fortifying that part of the wedge-piece that bears against the plate 2.

The invention produces a narrow linotype 19 in the following way: Molten type-metal is injected into the slot 11 and through the space connecting that slot with the slot into the latter, such injection taking place when the two slots 5 and 11 stand in the position illustrated in Figs. 2, 2, 13, and 19. When the linotype 19 and the sprue have set, the engagement of the incline 17 and the wedgepiece 18 is brought about, and the web 21, which is at that moment holding the said linotype and sprue together, as shown in Fig. 2*, is forthwith severed by the motion of the back mold-block. When that severance is finished, the two slots 5 and 11 register with each other, as shown in Figs. 3, 15, and 20, so that the usual movement of the ejector O can push both the linotype 19 and the sprue 20 out of the respective slots.

The locking of the bipartite mold-block to set it to cast ordinary type-high linotypes is effected according to the present invention by preventing the spring 16 expanding after the two slots 5 and 11 register with each other, the preventive device being a stop capable of preventing the said back mold-block being moved by the said spring. A suitable one is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 7 but any other equivalent device may be substituted for it and come within the scope of the invention.

23 is a C-shaped piece adapted to embrace the frontward projection 24 on the bottom plate 8 of the back mold-block, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 20, with its ends 25 25 standing between the projection 24: and the bottom plate 2 of the front mold-block.

26 is a set-screw to hold the piece 23 in its stopping position by being screwed through the said piece up against. the plate 8; but a special stop is not necessary, for the purpose of one is attainable by the screw 28 being capable of being screwed into the plate 8 far enough to hold the plate 2 fast to it. Thus when the back mold-block is in the position shown in Figs. 3, 15, and 20 screwing the screw 28 up tight will lock the bipartite moldblock.

The invention includes improved mechanism for coring the ends or the foot of a narrow linotype. For coring the ends there is the combination next described at each end of the bipartite mold-block.

29 is a pin, Fig. 6, transversely situated in the plate 7, as shown. Both pins are preferably fast in the said plate.

30 is-a cavity formed partly in the front and partly in the back mold-block for a link 31 to work in.

32 is a core. It is the nose of a core-piece 33, fitting in a chamber 34, which is a longitudinal continuation of the slot 5. The shape of the cores 32 forms no part of the present invention. Acore-piece 33 is capable of a reciprocating motion lengthwise of the chamber 34, but of only that motion. Each pin 29 projects into a hole in the end of the link 31 opposite to it.

35 is a stud fast to the outer end of a corepiece 33 on the side next to a link 31 and projecting into a hole in the end of a link 31 opposite to it. A stud 35 is outside a pin 29, as shown in Figs. 1, 5, 6, and 7. The connections between a pin 29 and stud 35 and the respective ends of a link 31 are pivotal. The action of this part of the invention is as follows: As soon as the spring 16 is free to expand it begins to move the back mold-plate over the front one to put the slot 11 out of register with the slot 5. As the pins 29 are fast to the plate '7 they move with it and carry the respective ends of the links 31 with them. The opposite ends of the said links cannot move in the same direction, because they are held to the respective core-pieces 33 by the studs 35, and the said core-pieces can move only along the respective chambers 34:. The two studs 35 are consequently pulled toward each other, which makes them push the corepieces 33 before them and protrude the cores 32 into the slot 5. The said cores are retracted by the engagement of the incline 17 and the wedge-piece 18, which engagement actuates the parts mentioned in the reverse directions to those just described.

Figs. 12 to 17 show a modified means for protruding and retracting the cores 32. A pair of levers 42, working between the front mold-block and the mold-wheel O, is substit-uted for the links 31 just described. They are pivoted on the screws 6,already described, as shown in Fig. 14. Their ends 38 engage in notches in the core-pieces 33, as shown best in Fig. 17, while their opposite ends 39 engage in slots 40 in the bottom plate 8. These ends 39 and slots -10 are curved away from each other, as shown in Figs. 12 and 16. The expansion of the spring 16 rocks the lever ends 39 away from each other to protrude the cores 32 into the slot 5, as shown in Fig. 12, and the engagement of the incline 17 and wedge-piece 18 rocks the levers 42 in the opposite direction to retract the said cores. Figs. 16' and 17 show them as retracted.

Figs. 18 to 25 show a bipartite mold-block adapted to cast a narrow linotype cored in its foot. The figures show the core as of a double V shape; but the matter of shape of the core forms no part of the present invention and may be varied as may be desired. Accordingly there is a tenon 36 on the front face of each of the plates 7 and 8 to fit in a corresponding mortise 41 (see Fig. 22) in the back face of the front mold-block and moving therein as the back mold-block moves over the front one. The back mold-block is moved over the front one and the linotype 19 and the sprue 20 severed from each other in the way already described; but the act of casting leaves the said linotype and sprue in the respective positions shown in Figs. 26 to 28. The act of severing the web 21, that holds the sprue 20 to the linotype 19, pushes the tenon 37 on the said sprue into the mortise in the foot of the linotype 19, so that when the two slots 11 and 5 register with each other the linotype and sprue would appear in side elevation, like Fig. 26. They are then ejected by the ejector O and parted by any convenient means.

lVhile I prefer to construct each mold or mold-section of the four firmly-united parts the top plate, the bottom plate, and the intermediate linersitis obvious that the only essential requirement is to have a solid mold with a suitable slot or mold proper therethrough, and that the mold may therefore be made in one piece or built up in any suitable manner, provided it has essentially the form and mode of action herein described.

WVhat I claim as my invention is 1. A linotype-mold consisting of two com plementary slotted parts, movable one in relation to the other, so that their slots may be placed in register or out of register; whereby the mold is adapted for the production of type-high linotypes, or for the production of lower linotypes with a sprue attached.

2. In a linotype-lnachine, a mold consisting of two slotted members, movable one in relation to the other, and means whereby said members may be fixed in relation to each other, with their slots in line or out of line, according to the height of the linotype required.

3. In a linotype-machine, a slotted mold comprising two slotted members, movable one in relation to the other, means for holding the base portion out of alinement with the forward portion during the casting action, and means for thereafter moving one portion in relation to the other, whereby the sprue or base portion of the slug is separated from the remaining portion.

4. In a linotype-machine, the combination of an ejector for the slug, a mold consisting of two slotted members, movable in relation to each other, so that their slots may be caused to stand in line orout of line with each other, means whereby the slots are held out of line during the casting operation, and means whereby the slots are subsequently brought into line, whereby the sprue or base portion is separated from the body portion of the slug and brought into position behind the same, in order that the ejector may deliver both portions through the front of the mold.

5. The hereinbefore-described combination of two slotted mold-blocks, one for the linotype and the other for the sprue, and adapted to stand with their slots nearlyin echelon during casting; a wedge and incline device to move the sprue mold-block over the linotype mold-block to sever the Web connecting sprue and linotype; means for engaging the Wedge and incline; and means for returning the sprue mold-block.

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6. The hereinbefore-described combination of two slotted mold-blocks, one for the linotype and the other for the sprue, one movable over the other and adapted to stand with its slot nearly in echelon with the slot of the other during casting; means for moving the sprue mold-block over the linotype mold-block to sever the Web connecting the sprue to the linotype; means forreturningit; cores to core the end of the linotype; and means to protrude them into the linotype-slot and to retract them.

7. The hereinbefore-described combination of two mold-blocks, one for the linotype and the other for the sprue, one movable over the other and adapted to stand with its slot nearly in echelon with the slot of the other during casting; means for moving the sprue moldblock over the linotype mold-block to sever the web connecting the sprue to the linotype; means for returning it; cores to core the end of the linotype; and lever devices actuated by the sprue mold-block to protrude them into the linotype-slot and to retract them.

8. The hereinbefore-described combination of two mold-blocks, one having a slot for the linotype and the other having a slot for the sprue, one movable over the other and adapted to stand with its slot nearly in echelon with the slot of the other during casting; a core carried by the sprue mold-block to core the foot of the linotype; means for moving the sprue mold-block over the linotype mold-block to sever the web connecting the sprue to the linotype; and means for returning it.

9. Thehereinbefore-described combination of two mold-blocks, one having a slot for a narrow linotype and the other having a slot for the sprue, capable of having cast in their slots a narrow linotype and a sprue or a fullwidth linotype, according to the positions of the said slots relatively to each other.

10. The hereinbefore-described combination of two mold-blocks, one having a slot for a narrow linotype and the other having a slot for the sprue, one movable over the other and adapted to stand with its slot nearly in echelon with the slot of the other during casting; means for moving the sprue mold-block over the linotype mold-block to sever the Web connecting the sprue to the linotype; means for returning it; and means for locking the movable mold-block to the other with the respective slots in register with each other for easting full-width linotypes.

1 1. A slotted linotype-m old, in combination with two cores mounted therein and adapted to be projected into and withdrawn from the opposite ends of the mold-slot.

12. Alinotype-mold,comprisingtwo slotted members, a slide connection between them, and a spring tending to throw the slots out of line, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PHILIP CHARLES LAWLESS.

Witnesses:

CHAS. S. WOODROFFE, HARRY L. COX. 

